Creating To Maintain Meaning

Meaning is another of the “big topics” touched on in my book “Developing Multiple Talents.”

Like passion, meaning is another central element in how we choose which of our creative abilities or talents to develop and express.

Or choose not to: If it isn’t meaningful in some way to use a talent, why bother?

Well, maybe if you get paid a lot for doing it. But does that really satisfy our needs for spiritual meaning? Probably not.

Finding and making meaning is especially crucial for creative people, and one of the potential consequences of insufficient meaning in our lives and work is depression.

Psychologist and creativity coach Eric Maisel points out in his article Making Meaning that the ongoing search for meaning and the task of meaning-making “is work, but it is the loving work of self-creation. It is the choice we make about how we intend to live our life.”

“Creators have trouble maintaining meaning. Creating is one of the ways they endeavor to maintain meaning. In the act of creation, they lay a veneer of meaning over meaninglessness and sometimes produce work that helps others maintain meaning.”

He warns: “Not creating is depressing because creators are not making meaning when they are not creating.“

Janet Riehl: “Eric, what I hear you saying is that when creative people in particular maintain a connection to their mission or purpose (you call it a Life Purpose Statement in “Van Gogh Blues”), a connection to the value of their work, and their own value as creative people in the culture, they will be stronger in their work and in their lives. Is that a fair way to put it?”

Eric Maisel: “Yes. Even before you can make meaning, you must nominate yourself as the meaning-maker in your own life and fashion a central connection with yourself, one that is more aware, active, and purposeful than the connection most people fashion with themselves.”

Making the most of our talents

Elsewhere, Maisel writes in a sample from his Meaning Solution Program:

“Self-actualization is a lovely word that stands for our desire to make the most of our talents.

“Instead of using only a small portion of your total being, just enough to get by, you make the conscious decision to employ your full intelligence, your emotional capital, and your best personality qualities in the service of growth and good works.

“We know that we’d love to make use of our potential and make ourselves proud. Self-actualization is the way you become your real self and your best self.

“You will do yourself a great service if you treat self-actualization as one of your most important meaning opportunities.”

Dr. Maisel has also created the field of existential cognitive-behavioral therapy (ECBT), which he says is “the technical name for a field where meaning, thoughts, and behavior come together.”

The Meaning Solution Program he developed “spells out what a meaning problem is and does more than identify generic solutions—it walks you step-by-step to your own personal solution.”

“Creating a more meaningful life is essential for anyone, but especially for creative people, and this book will take you step by step. This camp kicks butt, in a good, meaningful way!” — Janine T.

From the book:

“When I sought meaning and purpose in the external, I starved my own life. My choices were always constricted by what would achieve an end result and win approval, regardless of the cost to my health or my psychological well-being.” – June, a corporate executive

~~~

Related articles

See video with Eric Maisel, and links to his Academy for Optimal Living online courses “Why Smart People Hurt” and “Natural Psychology” in article: Brainpower and The Smart Gap.

About Douglas Eby

Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the Talent Development Resources series of sites including High Ability; Highly Sensitive and Creative; The Creative Mind and others - which provide "Information and inspiration to enhance creativity and personal development." Also see Résumé.

Developing Multiple Talents: The personal side of creative expressionby Douglas Eby
"One of many reviews: "Part book about creativity, part compendium of useful tidbits, quotations and research, and part annotated bibliography, this is a wildly useful and highly entertaining resource." - Stephanie S. Tolan, fiction writer and consultant on the needs of the gifted. -- See About the book for more.